The Future is Female

 

I am a woman who loves heavy metal and rock, and despite how many of us there are, we have been overlooked in the rock scene since its inception. The great news? Women are finally having their long-overdue moment. Female-led bands are achieving levels of success that would have been unimaginable a generation ago. I wanted to take some time to highlight a few of my favorite artists who aren't just participating in the scene, but actively reshaping, defining, and owning it.

Current Trailblazers (My Powerpuff Girls)

(I hope you find my questionable Photoshop skills endearing rather than annoying—if it's the latter, speak up, because otherwise this will keep happening!)

The custom Powerpuff Girls lineup at the top features the lead vocalists of Babe Haven, Die Spitz, and Faetooth (left to right):

• Babe Haven: Holding down my local Durham scene, they blend early-2000s nu-metal bounce with hardcore spunk. Their tracks are fast, loud, and direct—pure high-octane energy built for the pit.

• Die Spitz: Austin’s favorite new chaos engines deliver a sharp mix of '90s grunge melodies and thrash speed. I have tickets to see them in November, and their live sets are legendary for being pure explosive energy, complete with the band swapping instruments and trading vocals on stage without missing a beat.

• Faetooth: Opening that same November show, this Los Angeles trio self-identifies as "fairy doom." They pair haunting, ethereal vocals with heavy, sludge-laden instrumentals that roll over you like a fog.

The Blueprint

I can't talk about women in rock without shouting out two of the current crown keepers:

• Castle Rat: I've covered them plenty on the blog before, so I won't rehash it too much here, but the realm of fantasy-doom is firmly in their hands right now. They continue to set the high-water mark for theatrical metal in a post-pandemic world. If you get the chance to catch them live, do yourself a favor and go.

• Amyl and the Sniffers: I have a show coming up later this month to see them live, and I can't wait. Recent years have seen Amy Taylor and co. taking over massive international festival stages, proving that raw, unfiltered, high-energy punk can conquer global crowds without compromising a single drop of its edge.